Women’s History Month is annually in the month of March. This month is a contribution and celebration for women in society and history. Annually, on the first day of this month, it is considered Women’s History Day.
Why We Celebrate Women’s History Month
Why do we have Women’s History Month? Well we celebrate it because it reminds people of Women’s achievements throughout the years in society and culture. It helps us remember those who helped pave the way for gender equality throughout the US, and recognize the people who made history.
History
The celebration wasstarted in 1978, by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. It first started as a week-long celebration in Santa Rosa, California, for the locals that went along with International Women’s Day. Although throughout time, specifically two years later in 1980, women led by the National Women’s History Alliance successfully influenced recognition throughout the nation. This led President Jimmy Carter to make the week of March 8th National Women’s History Week. This was until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, making March Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has designated March as Women’s History Month.
Iconic Women
There are so many iconic women that have shaped what our society has become today. Some of these women are Dorothea Lange, Malala Yousafzai, Ida B. Wells, Toni Morrison, Clara Barton, Lilly Ledbetter, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Harriet Tubman, and Susan B. Anthony. All these women in history have amazing stories. Some such as Ruth Bader Ginsberg also known as RBG were known for “Successfully fighting against gender discrimination and unified the liberal block of the court” (Oyez), and have won many awards. Susan B. Anthony was a woman who was a part of the National Woman Suffrage Association who worked hard and her work paved the way for the Nineteenth Amendment, allowing women the right to vote. Many of these women have paved the way for gender equality, and now are iconic women in history.
Empowering Women Today
Although most of women’s equality work was done earlier, there are still many women who are empowering others today. To name a few, there is poet Amanda Lovelace, activist and poet Rupi Kaur, Ms. Magazine creator Gloria Steinem, writer Bell Hooks, TV show host Oprah Winfrey, artist Maya Angelou, actor Emma Watson, actor Lupita Nyong’o, Former First Lady Michelle Obama, writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
Cites
https://www.hercampus.com/school/winthrop/13-most-empowering-women-today/
https://www.womenshistorymonth.gov/
https://people.com/human-interest/womens-history-month-facts-explainer/#:~:text=We%20celebrate%20Women’s%20History%20Month%20to%20remind%20everyone%20of%20the,their%20important%20moments%20in%20history.
https://draperandkramer.com/news-and-insights/womens-history-month-celebrating-iconic-women-in-history/
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/subjects/social-studies/womens-history-month#:~:text=This%20month%20serves%20as%20a,makers%20and%20barrier%20breakers%20of
https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month#:~:text=Women’s%20History%20Month%20started%20as,History%20Week%E2%80%9D%20celebration%20in%201978.
https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20spent%20a,1933%20in%20Brooklyn%2C%20New%20York.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-B-Anthony#:~:text=Anthony%20was%20a%20pioneer%20crusader,women%20the%20right%20to%20vote.
